| Author |
Message |
Nisi
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 164
Location: Yorkshire
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 8:05 pm Post subject: Help - More Pecking |
 |
|
Just when I thought things were settling down I have discovered that one of my Blue Belles has an open wound on her side towards the back.
After I asked you all about the pecking before, it all seemed to have stopped. Both of the birds concerned i.e pecker and pecked are the 2 more mature girls and have both started laying  y little eggs.
I will search through the topics to see if I can find out what to do about the wound. If I manage to heal her, is this pecking likely to continue? I have been in the run showing the pecker who is the boss by pushing her down into a submissive position (as read in Starting with Chickens book) and she does stay down but then as soon as another hen comes buy she pecks again. Having felt her peck me through thick rubber gloves, when I feed them some corn, I can understand the cries of pain from the others.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Deb_Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 3661
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Take the offending bully out of the house and run for a day or two. Then reintroduce her (at the bottom of the pecking order) this should help.
I use regular antibiotic creme on the wounds...cover with stockholm tar. The tar will disguise the red of the wound...as chickens are attracted to red.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nisi
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 164
Location: Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:57 pm Post subject: Help - More Pecking |
|
|
Deb - Thank you for the advice. It sounds like a good idea to remove the bully, I will clear some room in the summerhouse and put her in there for a couple of days.
I couldn't get antibiotic cream but I have managed to get some wound powder and the stockholm tar. Then for the difficult part - getting it on her !
I'll let you know how it goes ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nigel
Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 2407
Location: Skåne, Sweden
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Stockholm Tar is icky stuff (bloomin marvellous though)
Good Luck |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Nisi
Joined: 09 Sep 2005
Posts: 164
Location: Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 3:16 pm Post subject: Help - More Pecking |
|
|
I have kept Doris in exile in the summerhouse for 48 hours. Everything in there is now covered with poop ! The 3 remaining hens have been very relaxed. Gertrude ( the wounded blue belle has been treated with wound powder and it seems OK).
So, I put Doris back, gave them some corn and half an hour later she was pecking them all again. The two Blue Belles have retreated to the henhouse peeking out of the pop hole and the more immature Black Star has lost a few of her feathers. I haven't used the Stockholm Tar yet as I wanted to see what happened. It seems I would have to coat 3 of them in it which would be terrible.
Hubby thinks we should take Doris back to where we got her and either get another one or stick with the 3
I would be very grateful for any opinions as to what I should do about her.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Deb_Moderator
Joined: 13 Apr 2005
Posts: 3661
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 3:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well, if the 48 hours in exile didn't work....I am not sure what would. Maybe she is a true out and out bully. It could get better in time. But can you stand to watch it take place that long?...If it ever changed? If you are not completely attached to her already, yes, I guess I would take her back and exchange her or just keep the three.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Register
Log in
